'Street' view of new immigration law

A police officer who contacts me occasionally called to say that he'd heard a politician say something really funny.

"This guy was talking about this new immigration law that I guess we're getting and he says that cities - meaning cops, I guess - shouldn't be allowed to 'pick and choose' which laws they enforce," the officer said, laughing.

He added, "Do you think there is a single politician in Arizona who has ever read Title 13? Officers pick and choose which laws to enforce every day. You have to."

Title 13 is that portion of the state's revised statutes containing Arizona's vast criminal code.

"You should tell people what's in there," the officer told me. "These guys figure they can pass any law they want and the world's going to change. Well, they better start adding new police officers and new jails because we're pretty busy with the laws we've already got."

I met this particular officer years ago at a crime scene. He volunteered (without my asking) to telephone whenever he thought I needed to hear the perspective of someone patrolling the streets rather than sitting behind a desk. (He had to alter that plan after realizing that he'd be calling me every day.)

He is in favor of being able to enforce the new immigration law, which gives police more opportunities to check citizenship status, when he believes it to be appropriate and "practical."

For instance, he might not ask during a traffic stop about the status of a mother driving her children to school. But if he suspects the person behind the wheel is a gang member, he would.

"Still," he said. "Look at Title 13 and tell me which crimes I should not investigate because I have to investigate the ones YOU prefer."

We might begin on Chapter 11 of Title 13, which is reserved for "Homicide." Within it are several different "classifications," including negligent homicide, second-degree murder and first-degree murder. Of course we want officers to investigate those crimes.

As well as those in Chapter 12 - Assault and Related Offenses. And Chapter 13 - Kidnapping and Related Offenses. And Chapter 14 - Sexual Offenses.

There are many other chapters related to crimes. They include things like bribery, prostitution, drug offenses, obscenity, sexual exploitation of children, gambling and more. Chapter 36, for example, which outlines Family Offenses, includes everything from domestic violence to the purchase of children.

We expect police officers to enforce all of these laws, and many more, every single day. And the politicians we elect continue to add more laws. Like, for example, the new immigration statute.

Maybe it's just the thing we need. Maybe having it on the books will cause illegal immigrants to self-deport, solving our problem.

But if checking the immigration status of people becomes a top priority of police, what type of enforcement drops down a notch?

And what is the price tag for implementing such a statute in terms of man hours? Attorneys' fees. (Even a non-citizen gets a lawyer under our system.) Court costs? Jails? Social services? Medical? Transportation?

It's a discussion worth having if the governor signs anything into law.

Or, as my police-officer acquaintance put it, "Things look clean and clear from up in the nice office where you sit. It's a lot more messy down here on the street."